My 18 year old daughter is diagnosed with depression, anxiety, ADHD,anorexia etc. She is desperate for help as she can't "get out of her head" and says she is only keeping herself alive because she is loved by us and doesn't want to hurt us. When she does happen to get ahold of something that a person can "over do" ie, alcohol, sleeping pills, etc, she over does it!
She has been admitted to the ER 3 times for these episodes. She always says she wasn't trying to kill herself, just wanted to feel good for a change instead of the constant depression.
she is on Medi Cal, so is in the minimal counseling and psychiatry treatment.
I would like to find some active groups that she can attend BEFORE she is a full blown addict like so many stories I read, know & hear about.
IS IT POSSIBLE? Can she get into programs to help her NOT go down that path. She wants to do something. She is even willing to go into an in-patient treatment facility. She has gone to a few AA meetings with her adult sister ( a lot of depression in our family genetics)when she visits her out of town, and she said she really likes them. But is that enough? Do any of you know of good in-patient facility that help people before they are actual addicts. she definitely has an addictive personality. She already manipulates me for her drugs, (I need more than recommended dose, I feel nothing on that dose, etc.)
After being on this site (first time) I realize that I need to go to Al Anon to get myself right. I already do a lot of the enabling tendencies.
Please be kind if you respond, I am new to this but in desperate need of some help in saving my daughter. Any advice would be appreciated.
Here is AA's HOW IT WORKS http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/p-10..._howitworks.pdf
Pay attention to the first paragraph where it talks about "grave emotional and mental disorders"
I am just like your daughter only 55 yrs older and AA/NA has saved my life since 1989.
Here are the AA PROMISES http://www.singaporeaa.org/PDFs/The...AA_Promises.pdf
There is a magic that happens at AA meetings that can't be described.
Many problems get treated and The Promises begin to transpire.
AA/NA is in every city, town and village in North America.
The 12 Steps work on every area of our lives (physical/mental/emotional/spiritual)
The 12 Steps work - they are everywhere - and they are FREE.
Who says God doesn't love alcoholics/addicts/afflicted souls !!
All the best.
Bob R
Pay attention to the first paragraph where it talks about "grave emotional and mental disorders"
I am just like your daughter only 55 yrs older and AA/NA has saved my life since 1989.
Here are the AA PROMISES http://www.singaporeaa.org/PDFs/The...AA_Promises.pdf
There is a magic that happens at AA meetings that can't be described.
Many problems get treated and The Promises begin to transpire.
AA/NA is in every city, town and village in North America.
The 12 Steps work on every area of our lives (physical/mental/emotional/spiritual)
The 12 Steps work - they are everywhere - and they are FREE.
Who says God doesn't love alcoholics/addicts/afflicted souls !!
All the best.
Bob R
Of course Im not your daughter but it sounds to me as if she is already an addict and that it may be in your best interest to explore this...
Welcome!!
I haven't heard of groups, facilities or organizations that prevent addiction. When my daughter was younger we talked about drugs. . .I thought open and honestly. I "educated" her about drugs and addiction. Telling her stories of my friends who were successful (altho they smoked weed) vs the whereabouts of others who took drugs that had a recipe. Giving her the visual of homeless addicts on the mean inner city streets in the dead of winter and showing her the 'consequences" of doing drugs that have a recipe. She read "Go Ask Alice." Her dad, who grew up in the 'hood, talked and did "Show & Tell" with her too. She volunteered at a homeless shelter. We talked about college, partying, drugs and alcohol. My daughter KNEW about drugs. The point is, I don't think you can prevent it. Just like you can't prevent cancer. . .or having high blood pressure. . .or mental illness.
My 21 yo daughter also battled depression/bipolar, ADD & anxiety. She hated taking the meds for these. She didn't really like to acknowledge that she had these issues. I believe she started to use drugs to self medicate. Sounds like your girl is too.
Unfortunately, Jenn is right. . .if you are seeing the signs, it is more than likely she's already an addict. It sounds like she's willing to get help. Fantastic. Perhaps a dual treatment facility? Some place that will address the mental health issues as well as any addiction issues. I hope and pray it is only a matter of getting her on the right combination of medicine, teaching her coping skills, counseling, etc. . . so that she no longer needs to self medicate. But the facility will be able to identify the problem(s) and help her address it/them.
Hugs & Prayers,
Lynn
I haven't heard of groups, facilities or organizations that prevent addiction. When my daughter was younger we talked about drugs. . .I thought open and honestly. I "educated" her about drugs and addiction. Telling her stories of my friends who were successful (altho they smoked weed) vs the whereabouts of others who took drugs that had a recipe. Giving her the visual of homeless addicts on the mean inner city streets in the dead of winter and showing her the 'consequences" of doing drugs that have a recipe. She read "Go Ask Alice." Her dad, who grew up in the 'hood, talked and did "Show & Tell" with her too. She volunteered at a homeless shelter. We talked about college, partying, drugs and alcohol. My daughter KNEW about drugs. The point is, I don't think you can prevent it. Just like you can't prevent cancer. . .or having high blood pressure. . .or mental illness.
My 21 yo daughter also battled depression/bipolar, ADD & anxiety. She hated taking the meds for these. She didn't really like to acknowledge that she had these issues. I believe she started to use drugs to self medicate. Sounds like your girl is too.
Unfortunately, Jenn is right. . .if you are seeing the signs, it is more than likely she's already an addict. It sounds like she's willing to get help. Fantastic. Perhaps a dual treatment facility? Some place that will address the mental health issues as well as any addiction issues. I hope and pray it is only a matter of getting her on the right combination of medicine, teaching her coping skills, counseling, etc. . . so that she no longer needs to self medicate. But the facility will be able to identify the problem(s) and help her address it/them.
Hugs & Prayers,
Lynn
Strange ....I just came from a AA/NA meeting. ..we talked about suicide...every single person in that room including myself had been there...multiple times... sometimes when clean and sometimes when not....our group has an age span of 16 to 70 years old...we've got ptsd...bi polar...add...and everything else in between... docs and meds and everything else help...but I bet she will find a place for herself in the rooms...nothing can prevent us from becoming addicts...in fact..I've found the harder people...family...parents...spouses etc. Try to prevent it...control it...fix it...the more certain the use becomes...I was a full blown addict by 12....it wasn't a phase...and even though those around me figured I was too young in ways to be. ..I knew it...your kid probably does too...I'd suggest she find a AA/NA group of her own...they also have youth meetings. ..
Peace
Con
Peace
Con
I too, suffered from anorexia in my youth. The one thing that I learned about eating disorders is that they are, in fact, addictions. In all these disorders...eating disorders, drug addiction, alcoholism, compulsive gambling, compulsive shopping etc., the substance is different, but the disease of addiction is the same.
I just wanted to mention that if she is in an active anorexic state, this problem should be addressed first. It is important to correct the nutritional deficits first, then work on the co-occuring substance abuse. Every in-patient eating disorder facility has a dual-diagnosis track for those who also suffer from an addiction- they go hand in hand more often than not, unfortunately.
Is your daughter on medication and/or going to counseling to address her ADHD? The most recent and comprehensive studies on ADHD conclude that UNTREATED ADHD leads to future substance abuse. It is almost always an attempt to self medicate the uncomfortable symptoms of ADHD. I am an addict in recovery from both an eating disorder and ADHD..they symptoms of which have followed me well into my adult life. I know most people view ADHD as an illness one outgrows, but many, many people continue to suffer well into their golden years with symptoms.
There are also other meetings such as Smart recovery or Women for Sobriety. These are some non-12 step options for those that do not "click" with the 12 step philosophy. Both are excellent! I'm sure there are others I'm not aware of.
I hope you can find some help for your daughter. It is always great when young peple find recovery! Good luck to you both!
I just wanted to mention that if she is in an active anorexic state, this problem should be addressed first. It is important to correct the nutritional deficits first, then work on the co-occuring substance abuse. Every in-patient eating disorder facility has a dual-diagnosis track for those who also suffer from an addiction- they go hand in hand more often than not, unfortunately.
Is your daughter on medication and/or going to counseling to address her ADHD? The most recent and comprehensive studies on ADHD conclude that UNTREATED ADHD leads to future substance abuse. It is almost always an attempt to self medicate the uncomfortable symptoms of ADHD. I am an addict in recovery from both an eating disorder and ADHD..they symptoms of which have followed me well into my adult life. I know most people view ADHD as an illness one outgrows, but many, many people continue to suffer well into their golden years with symptoms.
There are also other meetings such as Smart recovery or Women for Sobriety. These are some non-12 step options for those that do not "click" with the 12 step philosophy. Both are excellent! I'm sure there are others I'm not aware of.
I hope you can find some help for your daughter. It is always great when young peple find recovery! Good luck to you both!
I understand that medication can not fix everything and has its own side effects that are annoying to live with. This is why I explore all alternatives. I suggest taking the medications as directed while exploring other therapies..... massage, yoga, acupuncture, mindfulness, meditation - these are life long changes and not a quick fix. support groups - in person - for your daughter to go to so she can hear other's stories and suggestions for problem solving. Just keep going to something!
